Moisture content is a critical factor to consider in the food industry. The amount of water in a product affects the product’s texture, shelf life, ease of processing, and cost to produce. Snack foods, baked goods, pet food, and dried goods are just a few examples of products that are vulnerable to moisture content issues like these. In many cases, an easy loss-on drying (LOD) test will allow you to monitor the moisture content of these products. (See the 3 Easy Steps to Run a LOD Test here.)
Simple moisture analysis can be all it takes to improve the quality of your product. Let’s take a closer look at how moisture content affects each of these four product and production aspects.
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Topics:
Moisture Oven Test,
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
CSC Digital Moisture Balance,
Loss-On-Drying,
Moisture,
fast moisture test,
moisture balance,
moisture content,
moisture measurement
Loss on Drying (LOD) Moisture Balance analysis is based on drying a sample and comparing the difference in weight before and after drying.
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Topics:
Moisture Testing,
Loss-On-Drying,
moisture balance
As people who measure moisture, we at CSC Scientific work to find the best technique.
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Topics:
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
Moisture,
capacitance,
fast moisture test
When we first started measuring moisture with Karl Fischer, I was instructed in the complex chemical reactions involved. I was also was told that the process was skittish.
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Topics:
Coulometric Karl Fischer,
Volumetric Karl Fischer,
Moisture Testing,
Karl Fischer,
Karl Fischer Titration,
Moisture
One quiet night, long ago I was musing over moisture analysis and how easy it is to do using Loss-on Drying (LOD). Little did I know what was in store.
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Topics:
Bound Moisture,
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
Loss-On-Drying
Five years ago, we published an article on in-line vs. off-line moisture measurement. At that time we debated whether these measurement systems should be called on-line or in-line. We chose to use the term "on-line". Since then, however, the world of the internet became known as "online". So, to avoid confusion, we changed our view and now refer to direct measurement as "in-line" moisture measurement.
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Topics:
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
Loss-On-Drying,
In-Line Moisture Measurement
Can you do a fast moisture test?
The answer is, “maybe”.
The direct methods of Loss on Drying and Karl Fischer have the benefit that between them they can get a good moisture content result on almost any product or material.
But these tests usually take several minutes.
When you need the moisture content in a truck load of grain while the load is being dumped, or when you need to check several hundred bags of coffee at an auction, or when you need to get a moisture gradient in a pile of corn, a faster test is crucial.
Can you do it?
The short answer is, “yes”. There are, however certain caveats to this answer.
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Topics:
"Ask Art",
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing
Karl Fischer Titration and Loss-on Drying (LOD) are both methods for determining moisture content in a product.
That’s where the similarities end, though. In this article, I will explain the difference between Karl Fischer Titration and Loss-on Drying, and offer some suggestions to help you choose the right method for your application.
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Topics:
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
Karl Fischer,
Karl Fischer Titration,
Loss-On-Drying
I am very excited about a new update to the CSC Digital Moisture Balance. To give you a perspective of why I’m excited about this Moisture Content Analyzer update, I thought you my be interested in the story of the transition from a classic mechanical moisture analyzer to the current highly robust and durable electronic instrument of today.
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Topics:
Moisture Analysis,
Moisture Testing,
Loss-On-Drying
The other day, I woke up with a lingering quandary: Are the concepts of
Moisture Content and Water Activity the same thing?
As usual, I’ve decided to take on the task of clarifying the difference. I hope I pull it off.
From the perspective of someone who supplies instruments that measure moisture content, water activity has not been a primary consideration. However, I believe that comparison and contrast of these important concepts will be useful.
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Topics:
Moisture Sorption Isotherm,
Infrared Moisture,
Moisture Analysis,
Water Activity,
Moisture Testing,
bound water
